Rise in borrowing delivers headache for Philip Hammond

Government borrowing rose unexpectedly last month - prompting experts to suggest the Chancellor may struggle to meet improved fiscal forecasts that have given him room to ease austerity.Public sector borrowing - the shortfall between the Government's revenues and spending - was £8.8bn in October.It was the biggest October shortfall for three years, with growth in tax receipts outstripped by the Treasury's rising outlay on goods and services, social benefits and debt interest payments.